Reilly Opelka’s unfortunate battle with injury resurfaced at the Brisbane International, abruptly ending his final just 13 minutes in and handing victory to Jiří Lehečka. Opelka, appearing in his first ATP final since April 2022, had to withdraw due to persistent back issues after triumphing over notable players such as Novak Djokovic and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard earlier in the tournament. This withdrawal marked another chapter in Opelka’s ongoing struggle with health that included surgeries on his hip and wrist since his last match in August 2022.
Despite his promising comeback, Opelka expressed his disappointment, acknowledging the relentless support from the tournament doctor and ATP physiotherapists who had worked tirelessly to manage his back pain. Meanwhile, Lehečka, who had been leading 4-1 when Opelka retired, was left stunned by the turn of events. The Czech player, who had already claimed victory due to retirement in the semifinal against Grigor Dimitrov, showcased his prowess on Australian hard courts, recently ousting Holger Rune in straight sets.
This victory added a second singles title to Lehečka’s career achievements and further boosted his confidence ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam at Melbourne Park. His positive performance further solidified his capability, positioned alongside Jakub Menšík in the doubles final, setting an optimistic tone for the challenges awaiting on the Australian courts.
